Hi, Steve, I would suppose the idea behind the construction companys arguments was to bring the area up to the 20th century ie, parking better lay out? We will have to wait and see of course but I was taken to beleive some of the propertys were for social housing. With regards to big houses, yes, I can understand a development company trying to maximise the ground space useage some new homes are smaller, but there also cheaper to run, large houses in that area in the past just became a poor model of social housing, (tenants letting off rooms), now with all the new regulations designed to protect tenants (decent homes standards) means that alot of un scrupulous landlords could be taken to court. (private landlords sub standard lets). The old large victorian model however nice was never cheap to run, cold damp and more often than not without proper heating or damp coursing. Riverside doesnt make a profit, I worked for the company for many years, the company by charter is not permitted to make a profit, if you go into its housing association sector, you will see the investor in people, and not for profit logos. This is because the government set capping limits on how much it could charge for rent, Riverside Group Limited was set up as the investor part of riverside so in other words riverside group do own shops ect but that is the group and not the association. The group can buy out other housing associations or can offer exchange deals, over the last few years I beleive this is what has been done, such as english churches (housing) each aquired some of the others property portfolio. With regards to the edge lane area anyway I would have thought most could not afford to even buy properties at eighty thousand pounds (if the price offered of £58-000 for their existing homes). There would be the matter of ensuring prospective buyers even at eighty could afford to pay back the eighty. Seems nice that lots of investors would invest and not wish to collect interest of their loans? I havent come across that before.
I am sure too that the new layout will be to help design crime out, which was another request that was made when the origional concept was being talked about.
cpos are nothing new, yes they are sad but in some ways it seems its the only way forwards, and £58-000 isnt to be turned down lightly especially at the time before all this large investment was being pumped into the city of Liverpool. Health wise people need to live in dry warm affordable homes.
kat
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thanks Marie. 
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